In Nomine and GURPS are registered trademarks of Steve Jackson Games, and the art here is copyrighted by Steve Jackson Games. All rights are reserved by SJ Games. This material is used here in accordance with the SJ Games online policy.

August 19, 2005

We can dance if we want to.

While Gossamer Commons has become a regular stop for me - both I and Jaymiel have become quite fond of it - I really do have to take issue with the commentary to today's strip. This is a complaint of omission, rather than comission: Eric's discussion of Redcaps is nicely succinct, but it is lacking in regards to the most important thing (some would say, the only important thing) that a human needs to know about any particular breed of elf.

Which is, of course, how to kill it.

Granted, Redcaps are pretty tough bastards, but that's not the same as indestructable. Anything that manifests on this plane of existence can be removed, propoganda to the contrary.

Based on my own research, I'd recommend the following:

1). It never hurts to try the standard buckshot blast to the vitals followed by a solid slug to the head. If nothing else, it'll slow the bugger down. And, remember; just because the forces of evil use chainsaws doesn't mean that you can't, too. It's a tool, not a moral stance.

2). Some legends indicate that Redcaps are particularly vulnerable to Christian symbology. Most people who hear this assume modern Christian symbology, which is nonsensical; if you aren't waving around items significant to the ninth century AD Celtic Church, you might as well be reciting mantras about positive thinking.

3). If you have the time to spare, and if the Redcap is a traditionalist, by all means go for the hat. The hat is rumored to be a focus for power for this particular breed of elf; even if rumor is false, it's obviously pretty important for them psychologically.

4). Yet another set of legends suggest that individual Redcaps each have a specific weakness wherefore they can be instant-killed; opinion is divided in whether this is the only way that one can be killed, or just an assured way. This is both bad and good. Simple logic dictates that all the Redcaps with easy weaknesses to discover/accomplish are likely already dead; this means that the remaining ones are either fairly baroque or extremely well hidden, which is bad. On the other hand, narrative causality dictates that the more convoluted the geas (which this is certainly a variation of), the more the universe will conspire to bring it about, which is good. At any rate, do not overlook the possibilities inherent in quick-setting concrete and a convenient deep-sea ocean trench.

5). Always go for the face, with elves. Always go for the face. Ichor in the eyes is just as problematic in a fight as blood is.

And remember:

6). When in doubt, use napalm. Although a strategically-placed real estate development project is almost as much fun, and financially lucrative to boot.